School board continues planning for new childcare options

At the August 6 work session, the members of the Waseca school board got an update to the childcare expansion process which began in May through the Community Education department. Director Nikki Benson spoke about the rules concerning the running of an infant and toddler program and working with the state to ensure employee and parent handbooks are up to date. Benson said the state has inspected the former Grace Garden site and was very impressed with the facility. The program would house one infant room set up to care for up to twelve infants between the ages of 6 weeks and14 months, and two toddler rooms, that is, for children between 14 and 33 months. The district is anticipating the new childcare program to be up and running after the first of the year. 

 

Superintendent Eric Hudspith gave a strategic plan update covering the Desired Daily Experiences portion, or what students, staff and families expect when they come to Waseca Public Schools. Hudspith says this part of the plan is typically “refreshed” on a five-year cycle with a community survey. Hudspith also shared the three-year plan with the board for review and feedback. 

 

Hudspith spoke next about the Permanent School Fund (PSF), Minnesota’s public education endowment created in 1858 to support public school students using revenue from school trust lands. The fund has grown to roughly $2.3 billion today. The amendment that will be on ballots this November asks voters whether Minnesota should modernize how the PSF distributes money to the schools; the modification would not lead to an increase in their property taxes. 

 

Schools are currently allowed to receive only interest and dividends, which limits how much can be paid out each year. Voting to approve the amendment would substantially increase the state funds each school receives. A YES vote is not a tax increase; schools would receive more money annually from the existing trust without raising taxes.  Leaving the amendment blank counts as a NO vote.